The recent attempt by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Offa and Kwara State to portray a mere group photograph taken at the book launch of Dr. Wahab Shittu, SAN, in Victoria Island, Lagos, as an endorsement gathering for its Deputy Governorship Candidate is nothing but a desperate and misleading political stunt.
This is yet another indication that the APC has become a dying political party in Kwara State, desperately searching for relevance through propaganda, distortion and the manipulation of harmless social gatherings.
It is important to state clearly that the presence of Offa sons and daughters, political leaders and other dignitaries at the launch of Dr. Wahab Shittu’s book cannot, by any stretch of imagination, be interpreted as an endorsement of any political candidate.
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The event was primarily a book launch celebrating the intellectual achievement of one of Offa’s distinguished sons, Dr. Wahab Shittu, SAN, whose literary work, The Unexplained Wealth in Nigeria Trilogy, attracted eminent personalities, professionals, political actors and distinguished Nigerians from across political divides.
Indeed, the gathering brought together Offa elites including Alh Tajudeen Owoyemi, the Asiwaju of Offa land, and numerous personalities belonging to different political parties and ideological persuasions. Among which are Hon. Saheed Popoola, the PDP Kwara South Senatorial Candidate, Hon. Comr. Salahudeen A Lukman Eluku Omoagbo, PDP candidate for Kwara State House of Assembly Balogun-Ojomu Constituency, Hon. Ganiyu Lukman Ola, PDP Candidate for Kwara State House of Assembly Essa Shawo Igboidun Constituency, including the Deputy Candidate of the APC, Hon Seun Ogunniyi. Their presence was about honouring Dr. Wahab Shittu and celebrating his accomplishment—not about endorsing any candidate, if we are to follow that trend, we can easily say, Offa Elites endorses PDP Guber candidate, senator and Offa Assembly Candidates, but we won’t follow that path because we are people with value.
APC must stop missrepresenting OFFA Elites, we therefore condemn, in the strongest terms, the attempt to deliberately misrepresent a photograph from the book launch as a political endorsement.
A photograph is not an endorsement. A gathering of respected Offa personalities at a social or intellectual event is not a campaign rally.
And the presence of political actors from different parties in one event cannot automatically be converted into endorsement gathering for one political party or candidate.
If, however, Dr. Wahab Shittu, SAN, who was the principal celebrant of the occasion, has made any formal declaration that the gathering was politically convened to endorse the APC Deputy Governorship Candidate, then he should make such a declaration publicly. Until such a declaration is made, APC should desist from appropriating his event and the presence of Offa elites for political propaganda.
The APC must also understand that Offa people are politically sophisticated. Offa elites have consistently demonstrated that they can distinguish between party politics and the politics of personality, competence, loyalty and individual relationships.
APC is Losing Its Political Structures In Offa, The desperation becomes even more curious when considered against the political realities in Offa.
Several notable APC figures, including the former State Publicity Secretary of the party, former Council Chairmen, former aspirants and other prominent political actors, have left the APC and moved to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Offa.
These are not insignificant developments. They are clear indications of a party whose political structure is increasingly losing strength and credibility in Offa and across Kwara State.
Rather than addressing the reasons prominent members are leaving, the APC appears increasingly interested in manufacturing narratives from photographs and social gatherings.
This is not leadership. It is desperation.
One is therefore compelled to ask: What has become of the integrity and political judgement of those still operating within the Offa APC structure if ordinary photographs are now being presented as political endorsements?
Another question that APC should answer is whether it genuinely believes that Offa elites, who have consistently maintained a clear distinction between party loyalty and the broader interest of Offa, would casually gather together to endorse a Deputy Governorship Candidate when the PDP has presented a Senatorial candidate from Offa in the person of its candidate for Kwara South.
Offa people understand political representation.
They understand the value of having their sons and daughters occupy strategic political positions.
They also understand the difference between merely being used as political ornaments and genuinely having a stake in political power.
Therefore, APC should not mistake the hospitality, unity and social solidarity of Offa people for political endorsement.
The APC should desist from dragging Offa elites into its politics of propaganda and media manipulation.
Offa has a long tradition of political sophistication and communal consciousness. Our people may belong to different political parties, but there are occasions where Offa people come together to honour one of their own without attaching partisan considerations to the gathering.
That culture must be respected.
It is particularly unfortunate that a similar attempt has been made to drag the traditional institution and stool of Offa into needless partisan politics. The traditional institution should remain above partisan political contests and should not be reduced to an instrument for political propaganda.
The APC needs no further reminder that its political fortunes in Offa and Kwara State are increasingly under serious pressure.
The failures of the party are no longer merely allegations made by its opponents; they are increasingly evident in the political realities confronting the party, including defections, internal disagreements and the loss of confidence among sections of its former supporters.
The people of Offa deserve representation built on sincerity, competence, accountability and respect—not propaganda manufactured from photographs.
The APC should therefore stop this cheap media stunt and desist from misrepresenting the gathering at Dr. Wahab Shittu, SAN’s book launch as an endorsement event.
A photograph is not a mandate.
A social gathering is not an endorsement.
And the presence of Offa elites at a book launch is certainly not a blank cheque for APC.
The people of Offa are watching.
The people of Kwara are watching.
And the political reality is becoming increasingly clear: the APC’s time is up in Offa and, indeed, in Kwara State.
Adegoolu Abiodun
Youth Leader, PDP Offa Local Government
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